There’s no getting around it, skydiving can be a terrifying prospect! At its core, jumping out of an airplane in flight involves trying to override one of the most primal fears we, as humans, have — the fear of heights. We are simply hard-wired to be scared of falling because we know instinctively that falling generally doesn’t end well, but here’s the significant bit… It’s SO MUCH FUN!
The good news is that many ways exist to work past the fear that skydiving can invoke. Little tips and tricks can help you arrive at that moment of truth and not simply conquer the challenge but find out for yourself what all the fuss is about!
First and foremost, you’ve already figured out the most important and best way to beat fear: learning about what might make you nervous. One of the biggest reasons we fear is that we don’t know what’s coming next. We can’t see around corners, so sometimes we invent boogie men. The wonderful thing is that they disappear the instant we take a peek. So, let’s take a look!
With skydiving, these are some of the biggest what-ifs we can quickly help shine a light on:
- Skydiving isn’t like a roller coaster or one of those crazy zipper rides at the fair. Those involve lots of g-forces spinning you around or super-fast acceleration that makes your stomach drop out. You don’t get any of that from skydiving. When you jump, you’re stepping out of an aircraft, flying forward at about 90mph, and transitioning downward to a speed of 120mph. You accelerate faster than that through intersections every day, which simply means no crazy acceleration, no stomach drop!
- Yes, you can breathe normally and quickly during your skydive. It might feel funny with all that air zipping past you as it does in freefall, but it works the same way up there as it does up here. When you empty your lungs, they will fill up wildly when you’re screaming with joy and excitement!
- No, skydiving isn’t full of a bunch of over-the-top adrenalin junkies hell-bent on pushing every limit. Although our sport attracts every kind of person imaginable, all ages included, we are, by and large, some of the most safety-oriented people you will ever meet. We, as jumpers, know two things for sure. We love skydiving and intend to become old skydivers who still enjoy every minute of our sport.
So you’ve learned what you need, set the date, booked the jump, and as the day approaches, the nerves kick in… Maybe not too much, maybe a whole bunch. But you’ve already done the tricky part. You decided! Now, it’s about focusing on the excitement. The adventure. The challenge.
One of the most incredible things to remember, especially on the day or even on the plane as it climbs, is that every skydiver begins precisely where you are on jump number one. Now, hundreds and thousands of jumps later, we eat, sleep, and breathe skydiving.
Fears are challenges you haven’t tackled yet, but the rewards can be wholesome once you do. So talk to your instructor or your camera flyer. Ask questions. Even the ones you think are silly. Take those deep breaths. Be nervous on your way to the door, then leap. We know we’re biased, but at CSC, we think it might be the most significant thing you’ll ever do!
